Tag Archives: running

Typing Away on Slacker Saturday

Posted on August 2, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I have the type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease.  I have not been afflicted with that in a while.  This is only going to be a Slacker Saturday Post anyways, so I will just keep typing and hope for the best (as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing”).

I went for an extra long run this morning up a kick-butt hill. I actually felt pretty good afterwards, although my knees hurt abominably when going up and down stairs for at least an hour.  I must do some knee-strengthening exercises.  My Mom told me a few.  I hope I can remember what they were.

I wrote some post cards but did not get around to walking them to the post office till it was too hot for me to enjoy the walk.  I had seen a garage sale on Facebook so decided to drive to the post office then to the sale.

On the way to the sale, I passed another sale.  I stopped at that one afterwards.  All I bought at the first one was a glass of lemonade.  At the second I found a cute Halloween decoration, and I petted a puppy.  Yay!

Back home, I wrote a little on my novel and watched television.  Not at the same time.  Now I am relaxing on the deck with my husband and enjoying the cool of the evening (when everything is gettin’ kind of groovy) (no, wait, that’s something else).  Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Slacker Saturday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Feeling Sapped on Saturday

Posted on July 26, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was another Saturday without much scatter to it.  In my defense, I ran for over an hour (63 minutes, to be exact), and that really takes it out of me.  I spent the rest of the day wanting to take a nap.  Of course when I finally laid down and tried to take one, I had no luck at all.  These things happen to insomniacs like me.

My friend Kim and I went to a neighbor’s garage sale and got a few good buys.  The neighbor missed the Village Wide Sales, because he had to work, but he seemed to be getting a good number of shoppers.

After shopping, Kim and I hung out with Steven on the deck, his favorite spot to be these days.  We had some good laughs, as we usually do.  After Kim left, Steven and I went inside and watched Creepshow, one of the DVDs I had just purchased.  I have to say we were a little disappointed. When we watch it again, I may fast forward through the boring parts.

So this is turning out to be a dull blog post.  Could the hot weather be sapping me of all entertainment value?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  In any case, I see I am over 200 words.  I’ll try to be more entertaining on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Get My Butt Kicked

Posted on July 23, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I started to make a Running Commentary Post this morning but had a headache.  I wonder if I can do it now.  We shall see.

It was raining when I got up,  around 4:30 (I went to bed early last night), so I turned on the coffee and relaxed for a while.  That also gave me time to drink water.  Water and coffee, it should have been an awesome run!

Of course it was not.  When do things ever go the way I expect them to?  NEVER!  As soon as I started running, my legs started complaining.  What the hell, I had to ask.  I HAVE been running on a regular basis.  I had had it in my head to run the kick-buttest hill in my area.  As I ran toward it, I questioned my intentions.  Never mind, I told myself, just keep going.

On the way to said hill, I went up the hill by Valley Health.  It was hard!  I thought, this is it for me.  I would keep running a long run, but no more hills.  I ran on toward the kick-butt hill but intended to take the last possible turn to avoid it.  Naturally I second guessed myself about this.  How could I train properly if I did not run challenging hills?  Then again, I have plenty of time before my Virtual Boilermaker 15K to run hills.  Then yet again… if dithering burned calories, I would have no problems meeting my weight loss goals.

As I approached the hill and the avoiding turn, I observed a couple of pick-up trucks with some workmen near a house.  I thought I would greet them.  I like to greet people when I run.  The avoiding turn was right before the house they were at.  Oh, heck, I thought to myself, let’s get our butt kicked.

“Good morning, fellas,” I said.  One man turned around and returned the greeting.

“I is about to get my butt kicked,” I said.  He laughed.

And I proceeded to do just that.  This hill goes on and on and up and up.  Yikes!  I have done it a few times in recent memory.  They are not good memories.

However, I persevered and made it to the top.  Yay, me!  What a pleasure to go downhill after!  I went up a couple shorter hills before the end of my run.  I laughed at them.  When I am running with others and we come to a hill, I like to say, “Hill schmill, this ain’t no hill, we got this stinkin’ hill!”

So I ended up being happy I ran the kick-butt hill.  I went on to run for a total of 57 minutes, which is my current longest time (set this past Sunday).  Then I felt tired and headachey for the rest of the day.  What’s that all about?  I thought exercise was supposed to make you feel better!

No matter.  I ran.  I blogged.  I wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Few Accomplishments on Tired Tuesday

Posted on July 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not do anything bloggable today.  I went for a short run this morning, during which my legs said, “What’s up with this?  We didn’t sign up for this!” and my breathing went, well, “puff, pant, puff.”  I went shopping for a couple of things, but not to the locally owned, distinctive stores I love (sorry, folks, sometimes I need mass produced items).  My only real accomplishments were a load of laundry and two letters.  And I fear they were short, illegible, and uninteresting.

Oh dear, now it seems I am making a whiny blog post.  Let me share one of the pictures I took this afternoon.

This may be a metaphor for my life.

This is my driveway and front walk.  I have been meaning to do something about all these weeds.  I mean something other than staring at them and shaking my head.  Yesterday, I looked up (for the second or third time), a natural spray for them and mixed up a batch.

It has vinegar, salt, and dish soap.

After first starting to pour it into a squirt bottle with holes, I located an intact squirt bottle and got to squirting.  I re-squirted again this morning, then headed out this afternoon, armed with gardening gloves, a screwdriver, and high hopes.

Which were soon dashed.  I am not sure if my weed mixture did anything at all, but it certainly was not the miracle I was hoping for.  I poked and pulled and huffed and puffed.  Soon sweat was pouring down my face and my back was aching.  I bent over, I squatted, I sat, I knelt.  I had to laugh at myself.  What a crazy old lady I must have looked like!

I persevered for a half hour, maybe a little more.  I got a lot of dirt on myself and made some amount of visible progress.  However, I did not take a picture.  Oh, OK, I will go out and take a picture now (ooh, look at me, blogging in real time).

It’s a work in progress.

You can see why I did not list this among my accomplishments for the day, especially when I mention there are a lot more cracks with weeds.  Still, I gave it a shot.  People who took care of the weeds in their walks earlier in the season, I congratulate you.  I am hoping to do better next year.  In the meantime, I hope this will do for my Tired Tuesday Post.

 

6 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Not Scattered, Shout-Out!

Posted on July 12, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I cannot make a Scattered Saturday Post,  because I have not scattered enough.  I took a long run this morning then pretty much sat around and wished it was not so hot and humid.  YES, I am a wimpy whiner, one must put up with these uncomfortable weather situations, blah blah, woof woof.  Hey, at least I managed a long run up a major hill before wimping out.  I suppose that does not count with some of you ( you know who you are).  Hmph!

Where was I?  Ah yes, trying to make a blog post when I have not indulged in many blogable activities.  My friend Kim picked me up in the afternoon, and we went to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer for a couple of drinks.  It was a lot of fun, as it usually when Kim and I get together.

No, I did not fall off my barstool to take this picture.

I was just scrolling through my Media Library looking for pictures of the End Zone, and I found this shot of the ceiling, complete with a Herkimer jersey.  Some of these older buildings have the best ceilings!

Always stuff to look at!

I enjoy looking at the sports and beer memorabilia on the wall.  There are also several television screens, usually with different games going on.

So I guess my Scattered Saturday Post has turned into a shout out for a local business.  Regular readers may recall that I have given shout-outs to this business in the recent past.  So sorry to repeat myself.  I also apologize for making my Saturday Post early Sunday morning (by my clock, anyways).  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

No Sweat: It’s Lame Post Friday!

Posted on July 11, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

And yet, I am gaining weight. Go figure.

I will try not to spend this entire post whining about the heat and humidity, but no promises.  Sharing the above picture reminded me of a high school friend who used to quote Shakespeare referring to her midsection: “Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself to dew.”  Is there a problem with spending an entire post lamenting my weight gain worries?

The beauty part is that today is Lame Post Friday,  so I am going to call whatever I come up with OK, as long as it runs to 200 words.  Maybe another picture would pep things up.

I think they are pretty.

I have been watering my Johnny Jump-ups and my container garden almost every day.  The forecast keeps promising rain and even thunder storms, but they seem to bypass me.  I keep thinking I should take an updated picture but have not done it yet.  And no, I can’t run out and do it now, because it is dark out.

Speaking of dark, I will be glad when we start to get a little more of it.  I’m sure that is an unpopular opinion, but I usually am out of step with the rest of the world (you may have noticed).  Mostly I am looking forward to a later sunrise.  That way, when I go running in the morning, I can begin my run in the dark and end it in the light.  I love that.

Ooh, look, I am over 250 words.  I think I will just close with a picture.  Happy Friday, everyone!

A shot of my neighborhood being rained on, because I hear it starting to rain as I type this.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Independence Day Run

Posted on July 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I noticed my Army t-shirt in a drawer yesterday, I made up my mind to have an Independence Day Run this morning.  I would wear the Army shirt and run up the hill to the Veterans Memorial at Herkimer College.  It was time to run up that hill again anyways, and it was the day to increase my run time to 44 minutes.  This was going to be great!

I was a little worried about how warm it was when I first got up.  We are having another muggy streak these days.  Oh well, what’s a little extra sweat compared to celebrating our country’s birthday?  I put on a wide headband in hopes of absorbing some of the sweat before it ran into my eyes and made a note to myself to look for some extra-absorbent, exercise-grade headbands for the future.

As I reached German Street, I met a lady taking a walk.  We exchanged good mornings.

“We gotta get out before the heat of the day,” I said.

“That’s what I’m doing,” she said. “It’s beautiful out!”

“Oh, it sure is!”

A short time later I was making a note to myself that I must run more hills.  I ran this one earlier this week (I don’t know when; remember that note to myself to go back to keeping a running journal?  I didn’t do it).  Today it felt as if I hadn’t run it in years!  Crap!  I was gasping for breath. But I persevered and at last I made it to the top.

It feels steeper when you’re on it, and it gets steeper after the curve.

And realized that it continued to slope upwards.  It is amazing to me how my body can detect the most subtle angles when running.  I took my mind off my troubles by continuing to ponder my plans for the Boilermaker Virtual 15K.  I hope to recruit a few friends to meet me along the way with water.  Once I figure out a route.  Various possibilities ran through my mind.

Soon I realized a slight problem.  It was taking a long time to get to the Memorial.  Would I be able to get back home in 44 minutes?  Should I run only for 44 minutes and let part of my cool-down walk take me the rest of the way home?  I would have water; I was carrying a 16 oz. bottle which I intended to refill at the spring.

At last I reached the Memorial!

It’s a lovely little area.

Going down Reservoir Road was a pleasure.  My body appreciates downslopes as much as it suffers on upslopes.  I finished my water shortly before I reached the spring.  A man was there filling a bunch of five gallon buckets, but he let me sneak in to refill my bottle.

One of my favorite spots in Herkimer!

He said he was getting water for his swimming pool.  “I’ve been drinking this water since I was nine years old!”

“I love it,”  I said.  “Thank you!”

I was getting closer to my goal but was further from home.  I ended up running 47 minutes. It is an increase of more than the recommended ten percent, but I think that will be OK.  Boilermaker,  here I come!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Late Post, Good Run

Posted on July 2, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I begin my Thursday with  Running Commentary Post.  For one reason, I never posted on Wednesday, and this way there is an off chance I will make two blog posts today.  Additionally, I got back from my run less than an hour ago.  IT! COULD! WORK! (That was a quote of Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein)

I was ready to get up shortly after five.  Steven was still blissfully asleep, so it was a good day to start with a run.  When I looked out the window at the fog, my mind was made up.  I got ready quietly and off I went.

I have been running for several days in a row.  I really must go back to keeping a Running Journal so I can keep track of these things.  Yesterday I went for a long run up the hill to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), so I thought a shorter, easier run would be acceptable.

For most runs, I turn left out of my driveway and head toward German Street.  Today for something different, I turned right, going the way I go when I walk to the post office.  I went through Meyers Park, another familiar route for me.  When we first moved here and I started running again (after several sedentary years and gaining over 30 pounds), I made it a habit to always run through the park.  I went on really short runs in those days, but you have to start somewhere.

After the park, I headed toward Main Street.  I decided to keep going in roughly that direction till I had run for ten minutes then head home.  It would probably take me more than ten minutes to get home, what with following a different route, so that would be a good plan.

The plan worked fine.  I went on a couple of streets I don’t often go on (the village is too small for there to be many I’ve NEVER seen).  I admired several flower beds and envied a few screened porches.  I ran by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  I ran for 23 minutes.  To put that in perspective,  I ran 40 minutes yesterday,  33 the day before.

I still don’t have a plan for running my Virtual Boilermaker 15K,  but my training seems to be going  well.  I’m feeling pretty good about it.  Now to work on my writing!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Will Running Commentary Return?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I love it when my runs get up to 40 minutes, because about 22, 23 minutes in, my body goes, “Oh, yeaaah!”  This does not happen to me during shorter runs.  Your results may vary.

I have not said much about my plan to run in the Virtual Boilermaker 15K for the simple reason that I do not have a plan.  I don’t know how to make a plan for that sort of thing!  The only virtual run I have done so far was a 5K sponsored by Rock City Runners to benefit the Little Falls Food Pantry (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I am thinking a 15K will be at least proportionally more complicated, if not moreso (why is my Tablet underlining “moreso”?  That’s a word, isn’t it? ).

Be all that as it may, I have been running incrementally longer runs (or do I mean increasingly?  Am I being unnecessarily verbose?  Say it ain’t so!).  I thought it might be nice to make more Running Commentary Posts.  Unfortunately,  I make my best Running Commentaries soon after the run.  Yes, I ran this morning, but I just don’t remember all that much about it.

What does that say about me?  Nothing good, I suppose.  Then again, why should I go out of my way to say good things about me?  Readers will think I have a tremendous ego.  Yet again, I have long maintained that there are worse things than having an ego the size of Manhattan.

Well, that is enough of that circular argument.  But it gives me an idea:  I am going to call this a Monday Mental Meanderings, hit Publish, and drive on.  I hope I can go running again tomorrow.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Monday Mental Meanderings, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Shall We Blame My Attitude?

Posted on June 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have long maintained that it was useless to try to get anything done on a Sunday.  Once again, I have proven myself right.

Oh, I know all about self-fulfilling prophecies.  And please do not say, “Well, you never will with that attitude.”  For heaven’s sake, by that reasoning everybody can do anything they want if they only want it bad enough.  But let me not digress into these philosophical arguments with imaginary opponents.

I went for a long run this morning up a fairly challenging hill.  My first intent was to go for a slow, leisurely run, maybe even not very long, but I changed my mind as I went.  I told myself I could just run up the hill very slowly. Not that I ever at any time run very fast.

After a shower and breakfast, I made a tossed salad for the week.  I realized once again that my weight loss goals are more like daydreams, so once again I will renew my efforts at healthy eating.  Then I went to T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables for more tomatoes to make a macaroni salad,  which eventually I did.  More calories than the tossed salad, but so yummy and seasonal!

In the afternoon, I went with my friend Kim to the End Zone Pub and Grub.  We drank wine and I ordered the hamburger I had been craving for days.  I had French fries too, especially since Kim wanted to share those.  What was I saying about weight loss daydreams?  Oh well, as they say, tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of daydreams, you may have noticed that at no time did I mention writing.  I tried but failed.  I wrote a few paragraphs in the TV Journal and that was it.  But I mean to persevere.  At least I have managed a 300 word blog post.  An entertaining blog post?  Let’s not ask for miracles, not with my attitude.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Wrist to Forehead Sunday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →